Fire hits residential area in Barangay Payatas, QC

Fire broke out at a residential area in Barangay Payatas, Quezon City early Sunday morning.

The Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) raised the second alarm past 5 a.m., according to a report by Manny Vargas on Super Radyo dzBB.

FIRE ALERT: Sunog sa isang residential area sa Brgy. Payatas, Quezon City, itinaas na sa ikalawang alarma. | via @VargasMannysen pic.twitter.com/aKojI81iC6

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) February 22, 2020

The fire was said to have started before 4 a.m. 

According to a resident named Shirley, the fire started at the house owned by Emelita Mijares.

Shirley said there was an altercation prior to the fire incident and she overheard a certain Jojo threatening to burn the house. 

A resident named Mang Eddie said the suspect was a Jojo Mijares.

Residents tried to save their belongings but some were not able to do so.

Firemen declared the fire out at 6 a.m.

Fifteen houses were affected.

BFP-Quezon City Chief of Operations Fire Chief Inspector Joseph del Mundo said firemen had difficulty putting out the fire immediately since the water pressure in the water hydrants was not that strong.

Del Mundo also said fire trucks could not enter the other end of the street since there were vehicles parked on the road. Some electric cables were also obstructing the way.

He added that the fire incident is still under investigation and could not say yet if it was due to arson.

Del Mundo reminded residents to unplug their appliances when leaving the house and always check to see if their LPG tanks are turned off to prevent fires. —KG, GMA News